News archive (2017 - 06)

“Operation Sophia is the most important operation conducted by the European Union. Vessel boarding is a difficult and a risky task, and the way it has been successfully implemented shows not only the level of professionalism and readiness of Lithuanian soldiers but it also is a significant and tangible contribution Lithuania has made to international security,” Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis said at a homecoming ceremony held in Klaipėda on June 22 for the first shift of 12 of the Vessel Boarding Team Lithuania had deployed to the multinational EU-led Operation Sophia in the Mediterranean.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg conducting a visit in Lithuania praised Lithuania for increasing defence spending and efforts to strengthen security in the region at a meeting with Ministers of National Defence and Foreign Affairs in the evening of June 11. The NATO leader also underlined that as Lithuania increased defence financing it also strengthened the Alliance’s resolve to enhance collective defence.

On June 20 President of the Republic of Lithuania HE Dalia Grybauskaitė, NATO Secretary General, Minister of National Defence R.Karoblis, Minister of National Defence of Poland Antoni Macierewicz, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas, and other high representatives of NATO countries, commanders and other dignitaries observed the German-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group and allies complete a water obstacle crossing operation in Stašėnai, Jonava district.

On June 20 Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis held bilateral talks with Minister of National Defence of Poland Antoni Macierewicz; both Ministers were attending Distinguished Visitors Day of Exercise Iron Wolf 2017 in Jonava district.

On June 12-18 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled nine times to intercept military aircraft of the Russian Federation in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.

On June 16 The Adjutant General of the Pennsylvania National Guard Brigadier General Tony Carrelli met with Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas, Chief of the Joint Staff Major General Vitalijus Vaikšnoras and commanders of the Lithuanian Land, Air and Volunteer Forces while conducting a formal visit in Lithuania.

On June 15 Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas met with State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovakia Róbert Ondrejcsák. The officials discussed prospects for further developing bilateral defence cooperation, capability development plans of both countries, and exchanged views on the security situation in the region.

On Tuesday, 20 June, Distinguished Visitors and Media of Exercise Iron Wolf 2017/Saber Strike2017 will take place in Jonava district, in the central part of Lithuania. The event is expected to be attended by the President of the Republic of Lithuania, HE Mrs. Dalia Grybauskaitė, the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, as well as the Minister of National Defence of Lithuania, Mr. Raimundas Karoblis, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas. Also, ambassadors, chiefs of defence of other NATO countries, members of the Lithuanian Parliament, authorities of Kėdainiai and Jonava municipalities and other high-ranking guests are expected to attend.

“Defence cooperation between the United Kingdom and Lithuania intensified over the last year and I want to emphasise that the UK was, is, and will remain an important Lithuania’s partner in European security and defence,” Minister of National Defence E.Karoblis said at a meeting with Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart William Peach in the evening of June 14 in Vilnius.